Making of America Timeline

Founding of Jamestown

May 14, 1607

First British colony

House of Burgesses

Jun 30, 1619

The first democratically-elected legislative body in the British American colonies.

Mayflower Compact

Nov 11, 1620

The first written framework of government established in what is now the United States.

Founding of Plymouth

Dec 20, 1620

Settlers Landed from the Mayflower

Albany Plan of Union

Jul 10, 1754

Proposal to become a unified nation

French & Indian War

Period: Feb 24, 1756 to Feb 24, 1763

First conflict in the colonies against Europe

Sugar Act

Apr 5, 1764

First attempt to tax citezens in colonies

Sons of Liberty

Aug 14, 1765

Rebels against the stamp act

Stamp Act Congress

Oct 25, 1765

Meeting of British colonist representitives in New York

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

British soldiers killed 5 colonists

Boston Tea Party

May 10, 1773

Protests against taxation

First Continental Congress

Sep 5, 1774

First meeting of delegates from the 13 colonies to discuss the boston tea party.

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

Second meetin of the continental congress

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

Jan 10, 1776

Pamphlet to encourage the colonies to declare independence

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

Declared independence from England

Articles of Confederation

Mar 1, 1781

First Written constitution of United States

Constitutional Convention

Sep 17, 1787

Meeting to discuss the Articles of Confederation

Delaware Ratifies Constitution

Sep 17, 1787

Delaware approves the constitution

Federalist Papers

Oct 27, 1787

85 articles written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay

New Hampshire Ratifies Constitution

Jun 21, 1788

New Hampshire approves the constitution

Rhode Island Ratifies Constitution

Aug 31, 1790

Rhode Island approves the constitution

Bill of Rights Ratified

Dec 15, 1791

The Bill of Rights is adopted